By indycar.com staff

Arie Luyendyk Jr. won his last race as a competitor in Firestone Indy Lights and will attempt to extend his win streak later this month. The second-generation driver has signed with Andersen Racing for the Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 28.

“I am thrilled to be back in a race car, especially at Indianapolis,” said Luyendyk, who was born in the Netherlands but is a long-time resident of Scottsdale, Ariz. “I have known Dan and John Andersen of Andersen Racing since my days in USF2000. I have always had a great relationship with them over the years, and now I’ll finally have an opportunity to drive one of their cars.

“Indianapolis means more to me than I can express,” he added. “I’ve come back to win, and I’m confident that Andersen Racing will give me a car that can make that a reality.”

Luyendyk, the 28-year-old son of two-time Indianapolis 500 winner Arie Luyendyk, has more starts than any other driver in the history of Firestone Indy Lights with 62 and more laps completed than anyone else with 3,487. He led 10 races and was running at the finish in 49 of them. He is third on the list of career top-five finishes with 24 and he tops the chart for top-10 finishes with 47.

He finished fourth in Firestone Indy Lights in 2008, posting a victory at Chicagoland Speedway. His best finish in the 40-lap Firestone Freedom 100 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to date is third in 2004.

“We are pleased to add Arie to our lineup at Andersen Racing,” said team co-owner Dan Andersen. “We’ve known him since he competed in USF2000, and we’ve watched his performances in recent years in Firestone Indy Lights with great interest. He clearly is a winner, and with the car we know we can give him at Indy, it’s exciting to look forward to having some fun in the Firestone Freedom 100.”

Luyendyk had been trying to land a ride for this year’s Indy 500, but did not secure enough funding in time. Luyendyk will have to get up to speed quickly. He’ll have just two 45-minute practice sessions at 9 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, May 27 before time trials are held at 3 p.m. that afternoon. The pre-race activities begin at 12:15 p.m. on Friday, May 28.

“The next best thing is the Firestone Freedom 100, and for that race my first choice was Andersen Racing,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that Arie Jr.’s plans to run the Indianapolis 500 fell through, but we are glad to see him back in the Firestone Indy Lights for this year’s Firestone Freedom 100,” said Roger Bailey, executive director of Firestone Indy Lights. “While we would love to see another graduate of our series in the 500, but his experience at the Speedway in both the Firestone Freedom 100 and Indianapolis 500 will make him contender for another race win.”

source http://www.indycar.com